Dozens of students completing VCE Chinese language subjects face an uncertain future after a Chinese community language school went into voluntary administration this week.
In an email sent to students and parents on Tuesday, administrators for the Western Chinese Language School (WCLS), in Melbourne’s western suburb of Braybook, said they had immediately started reviewing the school’s operations and financial position.
Classes have been suspended, the letter from the administrators Rodgers Reidy said, and parents should not make further payments to the school.
“We understand that this may cause disappointment and uncertainty, particularly for students currently undertaking VCE Chinese studies and their families,” the administrators said.
Twenty-eight students are enrolled in either VCE Chinese Second Language or VCE Chinese Second Language Advanced at the school, according to a Victorian Education Department spokesperson.
“We will support students to complete their Chinese language studies with another VCE provider,” the spokesperson said.
On Chinese social media platform RedNote, one community member said “teachers, parents and students are all quite shocked”.
Rodgers Reidy declined to comment and the school council did not respond to the ABC.
But the administrators posted a statement on their website yesterday seeking expressions of interest from parties who may be open to supporting the school.
“The Administrators are undertaking a review of the School’s affairs and are exploring all available options to preserve its educational and community services where possible.”
Community language schools like WCLS are not-for-profit organisations that run classes outside school hours, usually on weekends, and teach languages other than English.
The WCLS taught Victorian Chinese language curriculum to students from foundation to year 10 and was authorised to teach VCE Chinese language subjects.
‘We sincerely apologise’
The school held classes for students from foundation to VCE. (AAP: Paul Miller)
The “extremely difficult and painful decision” to place WCLS into administration was made after receiving legal and financial advice, a second letter to students and parents from the principal and school board, said.
“Given WCLS’s current financial situation and the potential future liabilities it may face, the School Council believes that entering voluntary administration is the most appropriate and responsible course of action at this time,” the letter said.
It did not explain what it meant by potential future liabilities.
The school had been operating for 17 years and seen “generations” of students learn Chinese and progress to VCE Chinese, the letter noted.
“It has also seen the dedicated contributions of countless teachers, parents, and volunteers, working together to promote Chinese language education and the transmission of Chinese culture within the community,” it said.
“For many families, the school has been more than just a place to learn Chinese — it has been a space filled with cherished memories.”
The letter said the school understood the decision would cause “disappointment, distress, and inconvenience”.
“For this, we sincerely apologise.”
The school employed four part-time staff and 33 casual employees, according to Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits (ACNC) records.
School owes thousands in penalties
Administrators are calling for expressions of interest in the school. (Unsplash: Taylor Flowe)
The decision to enter voluntary administration comes after the school lost an appeal in the Federal Court last month, meaning it owes thousands of dollars in penalties plus entitlements to four teachers.
The appeal related to a court decision from August 2025, where the Fair Work Ombudsman secured a $13,320 penalty against the school and an $825 penalty against the school’s former volunteer chairperson.
Those penalties were imposed because the school and former chairperson failed to adhere to a Fair Work compliance notice.
The notice required the school to calculate and pay outstanding entitlements owed to four Chinese language teachers for periods between October 2016 and June 2021.
The entitlements, which included superannuation and interest, had not been paid to the teachers when the school was placed into administration this week.
A FWO spokesperson said the authority would “engage with administrators as required”.
There were no orders for costs in either the appeal or the first instance proceedings, the spokesperson said.
